No criminal charges in PA nursing home evacuation

Criminal charges will not be filed against the administrator of a Port Arthur nursing home that was accused of improperly evacuating residents during Tropical Storm Harvey.

Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney Cory Kneeland said that would not affect any potential civil cases against former Lake Arthur Place home administrator Jeff Rosetta.

The Enterprise was not able to reach Rosetta on Monday.

Kneeland said area residents who disagree with the determination also could contact lawmakers to improve requirements for nursing home disaster plans.

A 2017 search warrant of the nursing home said the administrator’s failure to evacuate residents or execute a safety plan before the storm hit and his behavior during a police-supervised evacuation on Aug. 30 “resulted in the injury of patients under the care of his facility.”

Kneeland wouldn’t say specifically which charges the grand jury was considering, but the jurors were read related laws.

He also wouldn’t say why the grand jury decided not to file criminal charges against Rosetta.

The Port Arthur Police Department, which investigated the case, is expected to address the case in a news conference Tuesday.